BRUSSELS, March 16, 2026 (EFE).– After the president of the United States, Donald Trumpsaid yesterday that he demanded seven countries let them send warships to keep open Strait of Hormuzthe European Union reported today Monday that The war of the United States and Israel against Iran is not from Europe.
Trump refused to identify the countries with which it is negotiating to join the coalitionwhich depend heavily on Middle Eastern oil.
But in a message published on Saturday 14 on your social network, Trump He said: “…Let us hope that China, France, Japan, South Koreahe United Kingdom and other countries affected by this artificial restriction send ships to the area so that the Strait of Hormuz stop being a threat to a totally headless nation…”
Europe says No to Trump in the war with Iran
However, the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) They rejected today the possibility of expanding the mandate of their naval mission Aspides in it Strait of Hormuzand they installed to reduce the tension in that area.
“This is not Europe’s war”said the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security, Kaja Kallas, at a press conference at the end of a Council of community ministers.
“Europa “He has no interest in an endless war,” he added.
“We have not started this guerra and the political objectives are not clear,” he highlighted.
Kaja Kallaan Estonian politician, recognized in any case that “the interests of Europa are directly at stake” with this conflict, and that “Iran is now waging war against the world economy.”
“The ministers have reaffirmed today that our priority is détente and freedom of navigation,” he emphasized.
Although in the Advice today the ministers spoke about the possibility of expanding the mission Aspides and expressed “a clear desire to reinforce this operation,” Kaja Kalla He pointed out that “for the moment, there is no intention to modify the mandate of the operation.”
The EU prefers to take care of the Red Sea rather than go to the Strait of Hormuz
“Although the Strait of Hormuz occupies the center of attention, Red Sea remains equally crucial. The risk that Houthis continue to be involved forces us to maintain vigilance,” he said. Kaja Kalla.
“The purely military solution “It never brings democracy, stability, or economic prosperity,” the Spanish minister had pointed out. Jose Manuel Albareswho advocated maintaining the current mandate and de-escalating the war.
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The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, José Manuel Albares, arrives in Brussels for the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, today, Monday, March 16, 2026. Photo: EFE -
The Strait of Hormuz in a Marine Traffic image today March 16, 2026 -
General view of marine traffic in Asia (where the Strait of Hormuz is located), Africa and part of Europe and Australia today March 16, 2026. Image by Marine Traffic
What is Aspides
Aspides It is a non-executive mission within the framework of the EU Common Security and Defense Policyformed in February 2024 as a defensive operation in response to the crisis in the Red Sea following repeated attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against international maritime traffic since October 2023.
This mission can operate along the main maritime communication routes around the Baab al-Mandab Strait and monitor the maritime situation in the Strait of Hormuzas well as in the international waters of the Red Seahe golfo de Adenhe Arabian seahe gulf of oman and the Persian Gulf.
In any case, it has a purely defensive mandate to protect ships that are the target of attacks by sea or air, without being able to carry out attacks on land.
The EU prefers to talk to the UN about the Strait of Hormuz
Kaja Kalla He recalled that in recent days he has spoken with the UN Secretary General António Guterresamong others, on “how to keep the Strait of Hormuz”.
Guterres this will participate Thursday March 19 in the EU leaders summit in Brussels.
Kaja Kalla admitted that it is an “urgent priority” for shipments of fertilizers, food and energy to resume through the Strait of Hormuz.
Effects of the war in Iran on Ukraine and Lebanon
In addition, Kaja Kalla warned that the crisis in Middle East is “diverting” attention from war in ukraine.
The policy made it clear that the UE will keep the sanctions on russian oil –despite the US announcing that it will temporarily relax them to lower the price of energy– so that Moscow have fewer resources to finance its war machine.
“The same drones that are attacking Kiev They are attacking the countries of the Gulf”, he expressed.
The will express minister estonia He also stressed that Hezbollah has dragged the Lebanon to “a guerra that it is not his”, and that “the lebanese people is paying the price for the attacks” of that Shiite militia, Iran’s ally.
“The disproportionate response of Israel “It has caused massive displacements, and a land invasion will further aggravate the situation,” he emphasized.
Kaja Kalla He stressed that also the situation in Gaza and the West Bank “it is getting worse rapidly” and in the Fringe of Gaza “has stagnated progress in the application of peace plan”.
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